Data and energy transmission system for passenger boarding bridges for airplanes

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a data and energy transmission system for telescopic boarding bridges with an inner section ( 2 ) joined to a first structure ( 4 ) and an outer section ( 3 ) connected to a second structure ( 5 ). The system has conductor rails ( 6 ) along the inner section ( 2 ) of the telescopic tunnel ( 1 ) connected to the first structure ( 4 ), and at least one pantograph mechanism ( 7 ) for electrically connecting the conductor rails ( 6 ) with the second structure ( 5 ), which is in permanent contact with said conductor rails ( 6 ) sliding along such rails accompanying the extension and retraction of the telescopic tunnel ( 1 ). There are additionally data transmission means connected to the first structure ( 4 ) and to the second structure ( 5 ).

This application claims benefit of Serial No. 200800164, filed 23 Jan.2008 in Spain and which application is incorporated herein by reference.To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to the abovedisclosed application.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the technical field of extendablecommunication structures, more specifically to passenger boardingbridges for airplanes, and more specifically to transmission systems fortransmitting energy and data such as sound or video between thedifferent points of the bridge, specifically to data and energytransmission from a connection point near the terminal to an electriccabinet at the final end of the bridge, from which point the energy willbe transmitted to the remaining parts of said bridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to carry out the connection between the Terminal of the airportand aircraft arose during the first half of the 20^(th) century, withthe appearance of the first commercial airlines. The design of boardingbridges has undergone changes over time and technological improvementshave been made which respond to new customer expectations and which havetaken root and extended in new designs.

Currently known bridges are formed by a rotating structure known asrotunda connected to the facade of the Terminal where the passengersboard and disembark; a rotunda support structure called column, a tunnelformed by a telescopic structure which allows modifying the length ofthe bridge according to the distance between the Terminal and theairplane boarding door; an elevation system also formed by a telescopicstructure on which the tunnel is supported and which allows modifyingits height and adapting to the airplane door level, a running system onwhich the elevation system is supported and which allows the movement ofthe bridge on the airport platform, a rotating structure called cabinwhich can be used as a link between the bridge and the airplane, acircular structure called cabin rotunda on which the cabin rotates; andstairs usually located at the end of the bridge closest to the airplanewhich allow accessing the bridge from the airport platform.

Conventional telescopic boarding bridges for an airport require a systemwhich allows transmitting both the electric energy and the controlsignals to all the used systems. The electric power generally goes fromthe connection, normally located in the column, which is the fixed part,to the electric cabinet located in the cabin rotunda. The energy isdistributed from there to all the electric devices located in thedifferent parts of the bridge, both fixed and mobile.

Transmission systems based on using mobile cables have been used upuntil now in order to fulfill this purpose.

One of these systems is formed by a beam secured by several angle barsto the upper part of one of the sides of the outer telescopic tunnel ofthe bridge. This beam has at its lower part a rail over which thecarriages holding the cables slide, such that when the bridge isextended the cables are extended on the sliding carriages, which areequidistant from each other, whereas when the machine is retracted, thecarriages move closer together such that the cables hang forming tailson the side of the bridge, which creates an unaesthetic effect inaddition to interfering with other elements of the bridge.

Another of the systems used consists of a cable holder chain causing themovement of the cables during the telescopic movement of the tunnels ofthe bridge, taking them through a standard link chain, which is fixed atone end to the outer tunnel and at the other end to the inner tunnel.This chain is supported on a tray located on the lower part of thetunnels.

Both solutions subject the cables to continuous stresses, causing breaksof the conductor and/or the insulator which end up rendering the bridgeinoperative over time. Furthermore they are very large systems, whichinvolves a problem from the aesthetic and assembly point of view.

A transmission system for efficiently and comfortably transmittingenergy and data from a connection point to all parts of the bridge,preventing the drawbacks existing in the previous systems of the stateof the art, was therefore desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the problems existing in the state of theart by means of a data and energy transmission system for passengerboarding bridges for airplanes, of those having a telescopic tunnel withvariable length. The telescopic tunnel is formed by an inner sectionwhich is connected to a first structure and by an outer sectionconnected to a second structure, the first structure being connectedwith the second structure in a telescopic, extendable and retractablemanner.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the firststructure is connected to a terminal of the airport and the secondstructure is connected to an airplane boarding door. In this case, theinner section connected to the first structure remains fixed, and it isthe outer section connected to the second structure which moves withrespect to the inner section in a telescopic, extendable and retractablemanner.

In contrast, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, itis the second structure which is connected to the terminal of theairport, the first structure being connected to the airplane boardingdoor. In this case, it is the outer section connected to the secondstructure which remains fixed, and the inner section connected to thefirst structure which moves with respect to the outer section in atelescopic, extendable and retractable manner.

The present data and energy transmission system has conductor railsarranged along the outer surface of the inner section of the telescopictunnel, and which are electrically connected with the first structure.These conductor rails can be arranged on the lower surface of the innersection, or on the upper surface of this inner section, or on the sidesof the inner section of the telescopic rails.

The rails can be single-pole or multipole rails and can be made ofcopper, aluminium or any other conductive material, and for safety theywill always be insulated by means of an insulating material.

As a main element, the system has pantographs electrically connectingthe conductor rails with the second structure. These pantographs are inpermanent contact with the conductor rails, sliding along the latterfollowing the relative movement of the outer section and the innersection of the telescopic tunnel during the extension and retraction ofsaid telescopic tunnel.

The system additionally has data transmission means connected to thefirst structure and to the second structure.

The sliding of the pantographs on the conductor rails thus allows dataand current transmission between the first structure and the secondstructure, this energy and data being transmitted from said first andsecond structure to the other points of the telescopic tunnel.

The system can be formed by several series of conductor rails with theircorresponding pantographs distributed over the outer surface of theinner section.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the pantographmechanism has at least one socket arm to which brush holders are fixedin correspondence with each of the conductor rails. Each of the brushholders carries a brush, each of the brushes permanently making contactwith one of the conductor rails.

The brushes of the pantograph mechanism allow current transmissionbetween the first structure and the second structure through a set ofcables to a terminal box, from which there emerges a plurality ofconnecting cables to the second structure.

The socket arm is fixed by means of a plate for the connection to adrive arm which joins the pantograph mechanism to the conductor railsand allows its sliding along such rails.

The pantograph mechanism for each of the conductor rails will preferablyconsist of two socket arms each of them connected by means of a set ofcables to the terminal box, and fixed by means of the plate for theconnection to the drive arm. This embodiment provides a greater contactsurface as well as greater continuity in data and energy transmission.

The socket arms can further have contact means pressing said socket armagainst the conductor rails, thus ensuring permanent contact between thepantograph mechanism and the conductor rails.

By means of this data and energy transmission system, a savings in thecosts upon preventing all the wiring necessary in the systems of thestate of the art, an increase of the reliability of said transmissions,since the deterioration of this system is much more difficult than thatof any of the previous systems by means of cables, and an improvement inthe aesthetics of the bridge are achieved.

This transmission system can be applied to bridges with tunnels formedby an outer section and by an inner section, and additionally to bridgeswith tunnels formed by more than one inner section, inserted into oneanother and allowing a greater retraction and extension of the tunnels.In this case the conductor rails are arranged on the outer surface ofall the additional inner sections in continuity with those arranged onthe outer surface of the first inner section, and the pantograph meanswill move as the tunnel is extended or retracted along these innerrails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention referring to a series of figures will bedescribed below in an illustrative but non-limiting manner in order tofacilitate the understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 generally shows a perspective view of an embodiment of thetransmission system object of the invention applied to a bridge.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing with detail the fixing of thesystem object of the invention of FIG. 1 in the sections of the tunnel.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the elements of FIG. 2 with a muchgreater level of detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view which shows the fixing of the conductorrails of the present invention to the tunnel of the bridge.

These figures refer to a set of elements which are:

-   -   1. telescopic tunnel    -   2. inner section    -   3. outer section    -   4. first structure    -   5. second structure    -   6. conductor rails    -   7. pantographs    -   8. insulating casing of the rails    -   9. socket arm    -   10. brushes    -   11. brush holders    -   12. current transmission cables between the brush and the        terminal box    -   13. terminal box    -   14. pantograph assembly plate    -   15. drive arm    -   16. connecting cables    -   17. rail fixing profile    -   18. rail fixing supports    -   19. tray    -   20. rail union fittings    -   21. clamps for locking the profiles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the data and energy transmission systemfor bridges object of the invention arranged on a bridge of the type ofthose having a telescopic tunnel 1 with variable length. The tunnel isformed by at least an inner section 2 connected to a first structure 4and by an outer section 3 telescopically connecting the inner section 2with a second structure 5.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is thatshown in FIG. 1, the first structure 4 is connected to a terminal of theairport, and the second structure 5 is connected to an airplane boardingdoor. In this case, the inner section 2 connected to the first structure4 remains fixed, and it is the outer section 3 connected to the secondstructure 5 which moves with respect to the inner section 2 in atelescopic, extendable and retractable manner.

In contrast, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention,not shown in the figures, it is the second structure 5 which isconnected to the terminal of the airport, the first structure 4 beingconnected to the airplane boarding door. In this case, it is the outersection 3 connected to the second structure 5 which remains fixed, andthe inner section 2 connected to the first structure 4 which moves withrespect to the outer section 3 in a telescopic, extendable andretractable manner.

As can be observed in FIG. 1, and with more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, thesystem object of the present invention has at least a series ofconductor rails 6 which are arranged along the inner section 2 on itsouter surface. These conductor rails 6 are electrically connected to thefirst structure 4. The conductor rails 6 can be single-pole ormulti-pole rails and are made of copper, aluminium or any otherconductive material, and for safety reasons they will always beinsulated by means of an insulating casing 8, which is preferably madeof plastic.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the series of conductor rails 6 ispreferably arranged on the lower surface of the inner section 2. Howeveraccording to different alternative embodiments the conductor rails 6 canbe arranged on the upper surface of the inner section 2 or on the sidesof said inner section 2 of the tunnels.

FIG. 4 shows the fixing of the conductor rails 6 on the surface of thesection 2. These conductor rails 6 are preferably fixed by means of aseries of supports 18 longitudinally placed on profiles 17, althoughalternative fixing means such as hanging bolts can be used. Theconductor rails 6 are joined to one another by means of union fittings20. Furthermore in order to prevent unwanted movements of the conductorrails 6, locking clamps 21 are installed on both sides of the fixingsupports 18 when the length of the conductor rails 6 requires it.

The system additionally has at least one pantograph mechanism 7 forelectrically connecting the series of conductor rails 6 with the secondstructure 5. This pantograph mechanism 7 is in permanent contact withthe conductor rails 6, sliding along the latter following the movementof section 3 of the telescopic tunnel 1 with respect to the section 2during the extension and retraction of the telescopic tunnel 1.

The system additionally has data transmission means, not shown in thefigures, which are connected to the first structure 4 and to the secondstructure 5.

The sliding of the pantograph mechanism 7 on the series of conductorrails 6 allows data and current transmission between the first structure4 and the second structure 5, said energy and data being transmittedfrom the first structure 4 and the second structure 5 to the otherpoints of the telescopic tunnel 1.

At least five conductor rails 6 are necessary for efficient data andenergy transmission, one for each phase, R,S,T, one for the neutralconnection, and another for the ground connection. However a largernumber of conductor rails 6 can be used for improving data and energytransmission. Additionally, as many rails as necessary can be installedfor transmitting signals or for supplying other auxiliary devicesinstalled in the bridge.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment of the pantographmechanism 7, it is formed by at least one socket arm 9, to which brushholders 11 are fixed in correspondence with each of the conductor rails6. Each brush holder 11 carries a brush 10 such that each of the brushes10 makes permanent contact with one of the conductor rails 6, thebrushes 10 of the pantograph mechanism 7 allowing data and currenttransmission between the first structure 4 and the second structure 5through a set of transmission cables 12 to a terminal box 13. Aplurality of connecting cables 16 going to the second structure 5 emergefrom this terminal box 13.

In addition, the socket arm 9 is fixed by means of an assembly plate 14to a drive arm 15, joining the pantograph mechanism 7 to the series ofconductor rails 6, allowing its sliding along these rails.

In this preferred embodiment of the pantograph mechanism 7, it has twosocket arms 9, each of them connected by means of a set of transmissioncables 12 to the terminal box 13. In this case, the two socket arms 9are fixed by means of the assembly plate 14 to the drive arm 15. Agreater contact surface is thus ensured as well as greater continuity inthe data and energy transmission.

In a preferred embodiment of the pantograph mechanism, the socket arm 9has contact means pressing it against the conductor rails 6 ensuringpermanent contact between the pantograph mechanism 7 and the conductorrails 6 and thus preventing a deficient energy transmission or a loss ofdata due to the fact that the pantograph mechanism 7 would stop havingcontact with the conductor rails 6 at any moment. These contact meanspreferably consist of conventional springs.

The data transmission means preferably comprise a transceiver and apowerline modem for powerline communications, connected to the firststructure 4 and a transceiver and a powerline modem for powerlinecommunications connected to the second structure 5.

Data is transmitted making use of two of the supply rails of themachine.

In another alternative embodiment of the transmission system, the datatransmission means can be either bluetooth® transmission means,transmission means infrared transmission means, or wireless transmissionmeans.

This description is being made for the case in which the telescopictunnel 1 is formed only by an inner section 2 and an outer section 3 forthe extension and retraction of the telescopic tunnel 1, but it can beadditionally applied to telescopic tunnels 1 having more than one innersection. In this case, the additional inner sections are inserted intoone another, all of them being outside the inner section 2 and insidethe outer section 3, obtaining with their movement the extension andretraction of the telescopic tunnel 1, and providing greater extensionand retraction due to the large number of sections, and which will beused for boarding in airplanes located in a place further from theterminal. In this embodiment, the conductor rails 6 are arranged on theouter surface of the additional inner sections in continuity with thosearranged on the outer surface of the first inner section 2.

Furthermore, according to a particular embodiment, the transmissionsystem has several series of conductor rails 6, and a plurality ofpantograph mechanisms 7 in correspondence with said series of conductorrails.

The transmission system object of the present invention additional has atray 19 arranged below the outer section 3 of the telescopic tunnel orany other similar device for securing the cables 16 emerging from theterminal box 13 and going to the second structure 5.

1. A data and energy transmission system for passenger boarding bridgesfor airplanes of the type of those comprising a telescopic tunnel withvariable length comprising at least an inner section connected to afirst structure, and an outer section telescopically connecting theinner section with a second structure, said data and energy transmissionsystem wherein it comprises at least a series of conductor railsinsulated by means of an insulating casing, arranged along the innersection of the telescopic tunnel, on the outer surface of the latter,being electrically connected to the first structure, at least onepantograph mechanism electrically connecting the series of conductorrails with the second structure, which is in permanent contact with saidconductor rails, sliding along such rails following the movement of theouter section of the telescopic tunnel with respect to the inner sectionduring the extension and retraction of the telescopic tunnel, and datatransmission means connected to the first structure and to the secondstructure, the sliding of the pantograph mechanism on the series ofconductor rails allowing data and current transmission between the firststructure and the second structure, said energy and data beingtransmitted from said first structure and second structure to the otherpoints of the telescopic tunnel.
 2. A data and energy transmissionsystem for passenger boarding bridges for airplanes according to claim1, wherein the pantograph mechanism comprises at least one socket arm towhich there is fixed brush holders in correspondence with each of theconductor rails, each brush holder carrying a brush, each of the brushesmaking contact with one of the conductor rails, the brushes of thepantograph mechanism allowing data and current transmission between thefirst structure and the second structure through a set of transmissioncables to a terminal box, from which there emerges a plurality ofconnecting cables to the second structure, the socket arm being fixed bymeans of an assembly plate to a drive arm joining the pantographmechanism to the series of conductor rails and allowing its slidingalong such rails.
 3. A data and energy transmission system for passengerboarding bridges for airplanes according to claim 1, wherein thepantograph mechanism comprises two socket arms, each of them connectedby means of a set of transmission cables to the terminal box, the twosocket arms being fixed by means of the assembly plate to the drive arm.4. A data and energy transmission system for passenger boarding bridgesfor airplanes according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission meanscomprise a transceiver and a PLC modem for powerline communicationsconnected to the first structure and a transceiver and a PLC modem forpowerline communications connected to the second structure.
 5. A dataand energy transmission system for passenger boarding bridges forairplanes according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission means areselected from bluetooth® transmission means, infrared transmissionthrough, wireless transmission means and a combination of the above. 6.A data and energy transmission system for passenger boarding bridges forairplanes according to claim 1, wherein the series of conductor rails isarranged on the lower surface of the inner section.
 7. A data and energytransmission system for passenger boarding bridges for airplanesaccording to claim 1, wherein the series of conductor rails is arrangedon the upper surface of the inner section.
 8. A data and energytransmission system for passenger boarding bridges for airplanesaccording to claim 1, wherein the series of conductor rails is arrangedon the sides of the inner section.
 9. A data and energy transmissionsystem for passenger boarding bridges for airplanes according to claim1, wherein it comprises a plurality of series of conductor railsarranged along the inner section, and a plurality of pantographmechanisms in correspondence with said series of conductor rails.
 10. Adata and energy transmission system for passenger boarding bridges forairplanes according to claim 1, wherein the telescopic tunneladditionally comprises at least one additional inner section outsideinner section and inside outer section, the conductor rails beingarranged on the outer surface of said additional inner section incontinuity with those arranged on the outer surface of the inner section(2).
 11. A data and energy transmission system for passenger boardingbridges for airplanes according to claim 2, wherein the socket armcomprises contact means pressing said socket arm against the conductorrails, ensuring permanent contact between the pantograph mechanism andthe conductor rails.
 12. A data and energy transmission system forpassenger boarding bridges for airplanes according to claim 1, whereinit comprises a tray arranged below the outer section of the telescopictunnel on which the plurality of connecting cables is located.
 13. Adata and energy transmission system for passenger boarding bridges forairplanes according to claim 1, wherein the first structure is connectedto a terminal of the airport and the second structure is connected to aboarding door of an airplane, the inner section being connected to thefirst fixed structure and the outer section being connected to thesecond structure which moves with respect to the inner section in atelescopic, extendable and retractable manner.
 14. A data and energytransmission system for passenger boarding bridges for airplanesaccording to claim 1, wherein the second structure is connected to aterminal of the airport and the first structure is connected to aboarding door of an airplane, the outer section being connected to thesecond fixed structure and the inner section being connected to thefirst structure which moves with respect to the outer section in atelescopic, extendable and retractable manner.